Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-07-02
ADDRESS OF DIR. HALL.
AT THE UNWILLING OF THE RIHL MoNU-
MENT AT GRERNCASTLE.

AT THE UNWILLING OF THE RIHL MoNU-
MENT AT GRERNCAsTLE.
COMRADES AND FRIENDS AFTER another
year with much of sunshine, and much
of cloud to our nation; another year
with its wealth of roses, fruits and rich
harvests, with it's frosts and SHOWS, the
day has returned in this another season
of bloom and sunshine, when the loving
and patriotic people of Antrim Town
ship turn from their prosperous labors
and busy throngs to honor the gallant
young soldier, who twenty-four years
ago to-day, fell on your soil, battling to
repel an invading army. And so to-day
you have gathered here to do honor to
the memory of this boy, and erect over
his final resting place costly shaft to
b is memory. Humble as he was, I'M
known beyond his squad and company
in war, and nameless outside Of small
circle of friends, Corpl. VIM. II. Rihl.
Post No. 438, Grand Army of the Repub-
lie, Dept. of Penn, and their friends,
have by their loving care and generosity,
made the name of Corpl. Rihl as great as
that of one for whom all bells give forth
their muff1ed sound, and whose name is
on all mems lips. So as we who knew
him SO well and loved him, having serv-
ed with him in camp and field, who
were with him in his last mad charge,
gather with you again around his quiet
resting place, we would again pledge
our lives to the Union for which he died.
And he died not in vain !; history already
records in glowing words his glorious
death. Aye, more! long after the mar
BILE of his monument shall have crumbled
into the dust, even when the Civil War
shall have been forgotten, the Union
and the blessing of Civil Liberty he died
to perpetuate, shall reign throughout
the land.
The campaign of 1868 opened without
any cheering prospect to the Union
Army. The year had been marked with
reverses following upon reverses. 1t
seemed to the Confederate Army as if
fortune were smiling on their cause, and
an opportunity had arisen for abandon
ing the defensive policy, hence General
Lee decided upon the invasion of Mary
land and Pennsylvania. This movement
began ON June Sd. The Confederate
General Ewell struck the Blue Ridge
Mountains passed through Chester Gap
and by forced march, made in the
days, passing oyer seventy miles of dis
lance, confronted General Milroy at
Winchester, Va, on the 18th of June.
Milroy's command consisted of some 700C
troops, including brigade at Berryville,
10 miles distant on the pike leading from
Winchester to Harpers Ferry. This
brigade was composed of the 9th Mary
land Infantry, Col. Horn 9th Penna.
Infantry, Col. Staunton 18th West Vir-
ginia, Col. Klunk Baltimore Light Bat
terry, Capt. Alexander: and LIST N. Y.
Lincoln) Cav'y, Col. A. J. McReynolds,
who commanded the brigade. Two of
Ewell's divisions attacked Milroy, while
that of Rhods moved to the attack of
Berryville. McReynolds was forced to
retreat upon Winchester by detour of
80 miles. not however without a severe
engagement at the crossing of the
Opequon creek, which was promptly
met by Alexander's Battery, 9th Mary
land Infantry and charge of the LIST N.
Y. (Lincoln) Cavalry, and there was no
farther molestation and McReynolds
reached Winchester at 10 p. m. On the
next morning, Sunday the 14th, General
Milroy sent Captain VIM. N. Boyd with
his company G, of the LIST N. Y. (Lincoln)
Cavalry, to Martinsburg with dispatch
to be wired to General Schenck, the
commander of the Middle Military De-
partment, with headquarters at Balti-
more, Md. There is a direct pike be-
tween Winchester and Martinsburg of
% miles, with the village of Bunker Hill
midway between the two points. Capt.
Boyd learning that brigade of Con-
federate Cavalry occupied that place.
he took to the foot of the North Noun
tains, leaving the place to his right, and
after an exciting chase by the Confed-
crates, reached Martinsburg safely. The
dispatch was wired and a reply being
received, Capt. Boyd realizing the i'm
possibility of returning to Winchester
with his entire party, called for volun-
teers and Sergeants John Harvey, Geo
J. Pitman and Oliver humphrey volun-
teered to carry it to Milroy, whom after
many difficulties and narrow escapes they
reached at midnight. While Boyd was
resting and feeding his horses, the town
was attacked by the Cavalry from Bunker
Hill. and the garrison of two Regiments
of Infantry and Battery of Artillery
were captured. With the idea of pro-
tecting McReynold's wagon train which
had moved by the way of Williamsport,
Md. Boyd followed after it, and crossing
the Potomac River at that place he en-
camped for the night. The morning of
the 10Th showed the Confederates ready
to ford the river, and Boyd only then
pushed on to Hagerstown and after
feeding his horses moved to your viii
lage and here halted to await the
enemy's advance. Gen. Jenkens' COM
mand charged upon this place in the
afternoon and drove Boyd out, captur-
ing Serg't Milton Cafferty. Boyd con-
Quoted the wagon train in safety to Har.
risburg at which point he arrived on
the 18th. On the 10th he CARED his
command and came to Shippensburg.
and learning the destruction of the
Cumberland Valley Rail Road bridge al
Scotland, he debarked his command and
marched to Chambersburg. On the fol
lowing day the Goth, he moved to Mer.
cersburg, concealed his command in q
large barn and watched Jenkens' com.
mand march by but short distance
from his place of concealment, and then
returned to Chambersburg by way Of
this place, Jenkens having fallen back
to Hagerstown, Md. On the morning
of the 22d he left Chambersburg will
the idea of moving on towards Hagers
town as far as possible. Gen1 Jenkens
had encamped the night of the 2ls'
about half way between Hagerstowr
and the Penna. and Maryland State
line, and on the morning of the 22d
he marched to this place. Here he
halted his brigade, which at that time
consisted of the 18th, 18th and nth
Va. Cav'y Regis and ..Wichter's Batta
lion of Cav'y and some Artillery, to
Craze their horses, while he sent Capt
Joseph A. Wilson, of company II
18th Va. Cav'y, on reconnaissance to
wards Chambersburg. Capt. Wilson
had with him a detachment of 2;
men, and these Boyd's command of 8;
men encountered at Marion. He at once
charged them and drove them bach
upon your town. Capt. Wilson hur
ried courier back to notify Gen.
Jenkens, who formed his brigade ir
line Of battle just this side of the town
Capt. Wilson with rare presence Of